Date: 1943 May 01			A/C Type: Halifax II		SN: JB803		Code: KN-G		A/C Nickname:
File: 68		Airforce: RAF		Sqn/Unit:  77 Sqn			Mission/Raid: Essen
1	Pilot	Sgt. Gordon Watson                  KIA, buried Muiden					9
2	CP/Obs	Sgt. Ian Crawford                       KIA, buried Muiden					10
3	Fl Eng/AG	F/O Arthur E. Parsons RCAF     KIA, buried Muiden					11
4	WO/AG	Sgt. William R. Louth                             MIA					12
5	WO/AG	Sgt. Raymond Shepherd           KIA, buried Muiden					13
6	Gunner	Sgt. Leon Hannan                       KIA, buried Muiden					14
7	Rear gunner	Sgt. Thomas D. Scarff RCAF      KIA, buried Muiden					15
8							16
Night 30 April/01 May 1943, on route to Essen. Was attacked by German nightfighter (Vinke) at high altitude just after entering the Dutch coast. Spiraled towards Muiden in distress. Pilot let 5 of the crew jump, but they parachuted in Lake IJsselmeer and drowned. The emergency landing went wrong and pilot Watson and rear gunner Scarff were found with severe head wounds laying dead next to the aircraft in a meadow to the north east of Muiden. Aircraft was smashed and the wreck in blazing fire. Engines deep in ground.

Pilot Gordon Watson and gunner Thomas Scarff were buried the evening of May 1st.

The next day, the body of F/O Parsons washed ashore. On the 3rd, three men of this crew washed ashore also, (Crawford, Shepherd and Hannam), all on the Diemen coastline.

Sgt. William Robert Louth was never found. He is MIA. Missing in the Lake or washed ashore around the Lake and buried as unknown RAF Sgt. with date on headstone between May 2nd 1943 and 31 January 1944.



Sources: 

- Magazine ARG 1940-1945
- website CWGC
- our file on Muiden Cemetery:  http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/957.html
- Nachtjagd Combat Archive. Theo Boiten, 2018.



© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air War)